Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Tarantula) 5-5.5" FEMALE

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Tarantula)

The Gooty Sapphire Tarantula, or Poecilotheria metallica, is a large arboreal tarantula from India, and one of the most famous species in the genus hobbyists call "pokies," short for Poecilotheria. Adults have a stunning cobalt blue coloration, with white and yellow markings on the legs and interesting white patterns across the carapace (head) and abdomen. Like other Poecilotheria, the underside is also colorful, with a stunning blue coloration and bright yellow stripes underneath the legs, which we suspect are used to flash and scare off predators. The blue starts showing around 2 inches and keeps deepening with every molt after that. P. metallica reaches a max diagonal leg span of about 6 to 7 inches, and females live 12 to 15 years while males live 2 to 3. The Gooty Sapphire is an Asian arboreal that can be fast and defensive, but it is noticeably less defensive and flighty compared to other Asian arboreals. Grab one of the most requested blue old world tarantulas for sale today, offered here as a mature female, full color and ready to be an immediate display animal.

Why do hobbyists keep the Gooty Sapphire Tarantula?

• Cobalt Blue Coloration: One of the most iconic blues in the hobby, and it only deepens with every molt from spiderling size on up.
• Large Arboreal Species: Poecilotheria is known for having some of the largest arboreal tarantulas in the hobby, and metallica does not disappoint. Adults reach six to seven inches, impressive for a species that spends its whole life off the ground.
• Confident and Visible: These are high canopy animals and genuinely active hunters after dark, but given enough space they will not just hide in their tube during the day either. Metallica can be fast and defensive, but it is noticeably less defensive and flighty than a lot of other Asian arboreals.
• Easy To Raise: Poecilotheria is more forgiving of new keeper mistakes than a lot of other Asian arboreals, in part because it comes from such a harsh native climate. Metallica backs that up with a larger hatch size than most and a great feeding response, rarely turning down a meal and often taking larger prey than a lot of other Asian arboreals. That, plus how much less defensive and flighty it runs than other Asian arboreals, makes it a great first Asian arboreal to try.
• Iconic in the Hobby: Ask any tarantula keeper to picture a blue tarantula and this is the one they picture. It has been one of the most requested species in the hobby for years, and one of the few we are asked for by name.

How should Poecilotheria metallica be kept?

• Adult Size: Spiderlings hatch out around three quarters of an inch to one inch (0.75 to 1 inch) in diagonal leg span, growing to an adult max of about 6 to 7 inches. A large arboreal, so plan the final enclosure with real height rather than footprint.
• Enclosure: A 14 by 14 by 24 inch enclosure with three to four inches of substrate and a tall piece of vertical cork bark as its tube, the final enclosure this species needs at full adult size.
• Rehousing: None. She is already in her final 14 by 14 by 24 inch enclosure at full adult size.
• Temperature: Keep them between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Kept on the warmer side they eat more consistently and grow quicker, and it is much closer to their natural habitat. Kept cooler they will do fine, though it is possible they run into trouble with molts, which is something we have been seeing across tropical species generally.
• Humidity: Never let the substrate dry out completely. This is a tropical species, so keep it slightly damp and top it up before it goes dry rather than after, and keep the air moving through rather than sitting still. Good ventilation is critical. Cross ventilation works best, but ample top ventilation can also be effective as long as the enclosure is not over-misted.
• Water: Provide a shallow water dish placed in an elevated position if possible. This is more natural for arboreal species and helps prevent crickets from falling in and drowning. A weekly misting is suggested as well, so the animal can drink off the side of the enclosure or its own webbing if it prefers that to the dish, as long as you are wetting surfaces rather than soaking the substrate.
• Diet: Prey around one and a quarter to one and three eighths inches, roughly the width of the carapace (head) at this size. Feed at least once a week.
• Temperament: Can be fast and defensive, but noticeably less defensive and flighty compared to other Asian arboreals.

Are there any additional notes or considerations for Poecilotheria metallica?

• Old World Species: Everything about keeping one of these well is decided at setup rather than in the moment. A tube it will actually sit in, a cage you can open without reaching over the animal, and a catch cup within arm's reach on rehouse day. Get the setup right and this is a straightforward species to own, which is why so many keepers end up with more than one.
• Medically Significant Venom: Gooty Sapphire Tarantula carries medically significant venom, but it is not deadly to humans. Just something to consider before you purchase.
• Cork Tube Is Essential: A vertical cork tube is not decor for this species, it is the enclosure. A flat-cut piece stood upright with a lengthwise cut makes a natural hollow you can partly see into, which is how you watch one without disturbing it. Real cork or sterile natural wood from the spiderling stage helps them settle and web faster than anything else we have tested, and we stock the same cork we use ourselves on our dry goods pages.
• Success Formula: This is one of the hardier arboreals we raise, and there is a reason for it. Pokies come from a climate with an extreme wet season and an extreme dry season, and that harsh swing is a big part of why metallica is more forgiving of a new keeper's mistakes than a lot of other Asian arboreal spiderlings. It also hatches larger than most and feeds with real enthusiasm, even observed taking down small lizards and other vertebrate prey in the wild. These are high canopy animals and active hunters, built tougher than the tube dwellers that spend their lives pressed into bark lower down, which is a large part of why the species stays so popular at spiderling size. Three things carry it: substrate that never dries out completely, correctly sized prey every week, and a tube it can retreat into from day one.
• Captive Bred: All Tarantulas are 100% captive bred.

Looking for similar species?

• Browse our Old World Tarantulas and Arboreal Tarantulas collections to explore related care profiles.

Listing Notes

• This listing is for a Poecilotheria metallica Gooty Sapphire Tarantula confirmed female measuring around five to five and a half inches (5 to 5.5 inches) in diagonal leg span, with the complete metallic blue and white striping at its strongest. This listing gets you a molt-confirmed, full grown female. Among keepers looking for a long-term display animal, females are more sought after than males due to their longer lifespan. On this species, females live 12 to 15 years while males live only 2 to 3.
• Looking for other sizes? This species is also available as 0.75-1", 1-1.25", 1.25-1.5", 2-2.5", 2.5" FEMALE, or 5" MALE.